I’m delighted to have had the chance to interview Kathreen Ricketson, the mastermind (or should that be craftermind?) behind Whipup.net, a wonderful website that hosts wonderful crafting projects for kids, as well as offering inspiring ideas for crafting projects and handy hints and tips. Kathreen is currently involved in the Crafternoon blog tour, and has been stopping by to chat to various craft bloggers featured in the books - the dates of which can be found on her website.

Kathreen is the editor of the Kids Crafternoon book series of which so far there is Sewing and Papercraft. I was lucky enough to have my own pattern for a Happy Bat Buddy plush included in the sewing book! The books can be bought from most local Australian book stores, or found online at Can Do Books, Booktopia and Readings.

Kathreen spoke to me about a whole host of things, including crafting disasters (they happen to the best of us) and the joys of putting together the books and crafting with kids.

What inspired you to create a collaborative craft book?

I love working collaboratively - it is so interesting and fun to work with others - you get to learn something new and meet new people. Working collaboratively can be difficult too, working with deadlines, lots of people and different time zones and then factor in the postal system and you have a headache! But I was lucky with having a great lot of people to work with - my husband who did the illustrations, the excellent folk at Hardie Grant and all the super creatives who contributed projects.

How many of the projects have been tried out at home so far?

We made a few for each book of course, and we tested out quite a few when editing the instructions, plus we had to make the Limby’s which appear on the front cover of the sewing book - another postal disaster!

What was the best part about putting the books together?

Definitely the bit where all the handmade goodies start to arrive in the post - I love that part!

If you were stranded on a dessert island with the equipment to make any of the projects, which would it be and why?

Perhaps the kite to signal help, or maybe the darts and dart board to catch some dinner!

Are there going to be any more books in the Kids Crafternoon series?

Yes there are two more coming out later in the year - Felting and Beading - and after that … who knows!

Are these crafts just for kids, or can adults have fun making them too?

Oh I think adults will love these books too. Quick and fun crafts for an afternoon of making what’s not to love. Particularly good projects for more advanced crafters and adults are the Owl cards, the Not just a bag, and maybe a mushroom brooch! But really - these projects are simple and fun and quick to make - they are perfect for anyone with a bit of a need for a creative fix.

What is most enriching about crafting with kids?

Kids have so many original ideas - they come up with the most amazing uses for putting unusual materials and techniques together - they have no preconceptions and are also super funny.

When you started putting the book together, did you know immediately what you were looking for (e.g. one plushie pattern, one pillow pattern, one necklace pattern)?

If was a bit of an organic process - I think. It sort of came together in the end rather nicely though.

Have you ever had a crafting disaster?

Oh plenty! Clothes that don’t fit, kids toys that fall apart, bean bags that leak, kids who hate what I made for them - pants with holes in unlikely places - lots and lots of crafting disasters. But that happens when you do something a lot - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. You mustn’t get discouraged by a little (or big) mistake here and there. And sometimes a disaster can turn into something wonderful too.

What would be your general advice for someone wanting to set up a crafternoon with their kids?

Provide the kids with plenty of refreshments. Dont’ try to do too much. Take things slow. Provide them with the materials and space. Don’t be too controlling - let them experiment and divert from the pattern if they want to. Take your lead from the kids. Don’t fret about perfection - don’t try to do it for them. And don’t take over! Let them have fun - play their choice of music. Oh and let them use the good scissors.

I am lucky enough to have a copy of both ‘Sewing’ and ‘Papercraft’ that I will be offering as giveaways to two lucky readers. If you’d like to enter with a chance to win either copy of the book, drop me a message in my ask box or e-mail me at raspberryrocket@rocketmail.com!

A perfect Pair of Pear Plushies!

Tah-dah! A perfect pair.

I wanted to create a pair of plushies that were very much loved-up, and this is what I came up with. I made the pears gaze at each other, with rosy blushing cheeks. I like the idea of these as a wedding gift, and I hope to receive custom orders where I can stitch the name of lovers on the back of the pears.

I also remember, as a kid, when double-gift best friend tokens were all the rage. You know, where you keep one and give the other to your best friend, so I like the idea that the pears could also be used in this way.

I got the idea yesterday when I saw a painted plate with two pears on with the wording “We make a perfect pear.” I worked all through the day on the design of these, and they were finished before I went to bed.

They are, of course, chillaxing on Etsy amongst my other plushies and come as a pair for $20: http://raspberryrocket.etsy.com

Well, it’s been really difficult trying to keep my lips sealed about this!

Way back in 2010 I was approached by Kathreen Ricketson, who runs Whipup.net, via Etsy. She asked if I’d like to design a plushie for a craft book aimed at kids. It took me minutes to draw up a plan for a miniature bat plushie, and soon I’d made the bat and it was winging its way, with instructions, to Australia!

I’m so delighted and honoured that my little bat is featured in this book, and it’s so exciting to think that on rainy days kids will be able to follow the instructions and make their own bats.

Better yet I am interviewing Kathreen Ricketson and her interview will appear here on 6th August. I also have two copies of the ‘Kids Crafternoon’ books to give away! One is the sewing book, with my bat inside, and the other is the paper crafts book. So watch this space if you would like to win a copy of either book… alternatively, you can go right ahead and buy the books on Amazon!

Cute Cloud Plushie!

Cloudlings were the first plushies I ever made, and have always been the most popular item that I stock! For the longest of time people have been asking me if I’ll ever create giant cloudlings that can be used as cushions. Voila! I finally took a crack at it and produced this lovely plump cloudling cushion who is puffy, fluffy and ready to fly away to a new home! Check him, and my other plush friends, out in my Etsy store!

Here’s one of my best-selling items, my Strawberry Owl Plush. A fruit that loves a hoot.

This is the first strawberry owl I made since my hiatus, and I decided to go for a darker shade of red than usual. I really like how it turned out. My first strawberry of the season is, of course, perching on Etsy along with my other current plush friends: http://raspberryrocket.etsy.com

I’m back to making miniature owls again. I have always loved making the owls, but since I got a sewing machine I’ve been obsessed with making huger creations. It’s definitely been nice to just curl up on the sofa while watching a movie and hand-sew something from start to finish.

Right now this navy blue baby is the smallest/cheapest thing in my Etsy. Awww!

http://raspberryrocket.etsy.com 

Here is a crafty little foxy friend, used to foraging for berries and nuts in the forest, now looking for someone to accompany him on his adventures.

There are more photos of him, and his other friends, on my Etsy store: http://raspberryrocket.etsy.com

Here’s a tree plush I’ve recently made! Aside from cloudlings, I don’t make many plushies inspired by nature that doesn’t take animal form. Therefore I thought I’d try my hand at a fluffy green tree, complete with obligatory happy face.

I popped him up on Etsy, where you can see more photographs of him: http://raspberryrocket.etsy.com

Here’s another elephant that I’ve recently whipped up. I added a little white heart patch. He’s up now on my Etsy store (http://raspberryrocket.etsy.com).

I think I might make these as pairs; I like the idea of making a white elephant with a red heart, and then the two of them could link trunks. It could be a nice gift idea for best friends, or lovers, or even parents with a new baby. I’m obsessed with elephants lately, sewing the trunk is still the most challenging but fun part!

I’ve had a really long hiatus due to finals but have finally gotten back to crafting again, I’ve missed it so much!

Here’s a pink winged elephant I’ve just added to my Etsy store (http://raspberryrocket.etsy.com). I made a blue one for a friend who was moving away, to wish him luck, and decided to try out new colours.

The heart-shaped padded wings were my favourite part to make. It was a real challenge trying to get the shape of the trunk to be consistent. I’m really pleased with how it turned out!

I was recently approached by a customer in Australia two create two owls for her little girl. Her daughter’s room is decorated with pink, red and white, and the customer had ordered lots of cute custom toys to this colour scheme. I experimented with lots of sketches on how best to combine these three colours in each owl, but in the end we both decided they looked best like this. I loved the project, and the customer was thrilled with her owls. I now sell these owls in my store and have nicknamed them the Valentine owls, because of their colouring!

raspberryrocket.etsy.com

I made a little woodland owl, inspired by the earthy greens and browns of autumn. His belly is made from a vintage Laura Ashley fabric that my mum gave to me!

I made this strawberry owl, and now I want strawberries and cream!

Customisation is fun! I personalised these clouds for a family: a woman, her husband and her six dogs. It was such a fun order to fulfil. My hand-stitching has gotten so much better, I can now confidently hand-stitch names such as these!

I also reached fifty items in my shop, hoorah! I designed a new owl today, who is very excited for his photoshoot tomorrow.

I have so much packing to do before the move, and yet I keep picking things up and sewing them together :P

Thank you so much! :) Well, the clouds tend to take me two hours each, and the owls are always around four hours, mostly because I hand sew everything and it takes an age! I’ve been crafting my entire life, so selling seemed like the logical thing to do once I had far too many plushies than I knew what to do with. It’s taken me a long time to build up my shop, but I love it and it’s fun :)